Controlling device for pumps and the like.



G. M. RIGMRDS.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOB. PUMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1911.

Patented May 12, 1914.

2 SH ETS-SHEET 1.

G. M. RICHARDS. GONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PUMPS AND THE LIKE.

v.11111011110111111.211 SEPT. 1'1, 1911. l 1 1,096,265. 1 Patented May 12, 1914.

. v z snnrzssnnn 2.

l z fi To all 'whom t may concern.'

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. RICHARDS, 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASVSIGNOR TO MARION A. RICHARDS, i

or ERIE, 'PENSYLVANIA coNTRoLLING DEvIc'E ron if'uiyis AND LIKE.

Specification of Letters 'atent.

Patented May '12, 1914.

Application filed september 11 1911. sei-iai No. 64am.

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. RICHARDS,

a citizen of the United States, residing atI Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in4 Controlling Devices forPumps and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controlling means of the kind used in connectionv with Huid compressors and pumps for automatically controlling the speedof the machine and unloading and loading the same in such a manner as to maintain the pressure of the pumped iuid Within predetermined desired limits and secure the highest eiciency of the machine. Controlling vdevices of this kind as heretofore constructed, while being capable of unloading the machine at-'a predetermined pressure, require a material drop in the pressure of the pumped fluid to cause thein to again `load the machine which results in an objectionable variation yof pressure in thereceiver 'or discharge pipes ofthe machine.

The objects of this invention are to produce controlling means of this kind which Vwill be prompt and reliable in action and which can be adjusted to eect the unloading ofthe Ina-chine at any desired pressure and which, if desired, can be so set that after ,unloading the machine they `Will againload it upon any predeterminedy slight decree-sein the receiver pressure, thereby preventing objectionable variations in the pressure in the receiver or discharge pipes of the machine; and also to provide means coperating with the unloading device 'for governing the operation' of the compressor` so as to build up the pressure of the pumped Huid until the desired lpressure thereof is obtained. A

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 isa sectional elevation of controlling means ,embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front' elevation o f a slightly 7Inodified construetion of the controlling" device. Fig. 3 a central sectional elevation thereof. 'Fig. 4

Vis a front elevationbf the controlling de-v vice, shoivn in Figfl. Fig-5 is a central used- 'desired` sectional` elevation thereof.. Fig. 6 1s al front elevation of another form of controlling device. Fig. 7 is a central sectional elevation thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in theseveral figures.

f The controlling mechanism comprises a controlling device which is acted 'upon by vthe pumped Huid and is operatively con-4 nected W1th a pressure governor for regu.

ever,- intended thereby to limit the invention to steam operated air compressors.

In the particular a plication of this invention, as illustrate in Fig. l, A represents a compressor cylinder and a the suction or inlet pipe therefor. The suction pipe a, is provided with a suitable unloading valve or device B which, in the con-A struction shovvn, comprises a casing b with a dividing diaphragm b having an opening which is adapted to be closed by a valve or disk b2. The valve b? is normally held away from its seat on the diaphragm b by a spring' ha and is sealed to prevent the passage of airto the compressor cylinder by a piston c Working in a cylinder C which may be integrally formed on a cap or cover pressor', and thus unloads the machine.

When the pressure in the cylinder C is released, the spring b3 moves thevalve oft'- its seat and admits the air to the compressor cylinder A.. The `unloading valve forms no part of this' invention, and any other suitabr lioading device or valve, adapted ff.

The' pressure governorshown in Fig. l is described in detail in my application No. 536.508, tiled J an. 5, 1910. This governor is Well adapted for use in connection with the controlling means, but is not necessarily used, since any suitable governor, adapted to be operated by the pumped fluid to control the speed of the machine, may be used. This governor comprises a moto-r D which is adapted to be actuated by the compressed air anda valve E. which is operated by the motor and is adapted to controlthe admission of steam to the engine. The governor motor comprises a cylinder d in which a piston d is adapted'to be moved by the compressed air from the receiver in opposition to resistance springs (not shown). The piston d is connect-ed by a rod cl2 to one end of a lever d3 which is pivoted between its ends and is connected at its opposite end to the stem e of the valve E. The valve Vis provided with disks e e and e2 e2 which cooperate with seats e3 e3. As the pressure of the pumped Huid increases, or builds up, the pressure acting on the piston d opens the valve wider to increase the supply of steam to the compressor engine. During the opening movementJ ofl the valve the disks e e Vrecede from the valve seats and the disks e2 properly controlled to operate under diiterent conditions, and the disks e e" are so placed relative to their seats that when no pressure is acting o-n the governor motor D, just' enough steam will pass through the valve E to keep the engine' ruiming.

Either the governor or the unloader is adapted to be connected with the supply ot compressed air by a controlling device which is so constructed that when the receiver pressure is belowawctertain marimum, the governor will be connected to the receiver to control the operation of the machine, and when the pressure rises to the desired maximum', the governor will be disconnected from the air supply and the unloader connected therewith, so that the engine will run slowly and pump no additional air into the receiver. rlhe controlling 'device comprises a cylindrical casing F in the opposite ends of which are arranged movable pistons G and H. The controlling device is shown as arranged vertically and'is so described for the sake of clearness, but it can be arranged in any convenient position. Air from the re-4 ceiver is admitted to the casing between the pistons G `and'I-l through aninlet passage f and tends to move said pistons outwardly or away from each other and is also admitted to the cylinder alcove the piston Gf to equal.n

land 5 is formed by a passage f in the casing. .A regulating valve f2 may be used .to

control the llow of air'in the by-pass. the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a small hole f3, extending longitudinally through the piston G is provided in place of the `by.pass v to equalize the pressures on the two ends of the piston. When the pressure is thus equalized,'the piston is adapted, to be moved to its inner or lower position by a suitable spring o arranged between the upper-end of the casing'and'the piston. The piston shown is recessed to form a seat for thespring` g. ln this construction the air passes from the inlet passage to a sho-rt pipe f* which is prof vided .with suitable holes through which the air discharges to act on the inner ends of the pistons. rlhis -tube also acts a stop to limit the movement of the piston Gr', while in the controller, shown in Figs. 4 7, a stop f5 is shown for this purpose.

The piston H extends out of the end of the casing and its outward movement by the pressure of the air is opposed by an adjustable resistance device, consisting, for in-v stance, of springs l1, il, connected at one end thereof to arms it on the casing l?, and at their other end by tensioning screws ft2 to the ends" of a yoke h3 bearing on the outer end of the piston ll. By adjusting the screws 72,2 the tension of the` springs can be varied to suit the pressure at which it is desired that the piston lll should be moved by the air pressure. Any other suitable means for resisting the movement ot' the piston lvl may be employed.

'llhe piston G actuates a controlling valve which-connects either the pressure governor or the unloader with the supply of compressed air. This valve may be of any suitable construction. vice shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 a slide valve I is shown whichstraddles a reduced portion of the piston Gr, and when the piston (ir is in the lower position shown it uncovers a' passage a' which is connected by a pipe t" with the motor cylinder of the pressure governor. and joins an exhaust passage 2 with a passage 3 connected by a pipe t with the cylinder of the unloading device. rlhe compressed air will then pass from the receiver through the controller casing l to the pressure governor and operate the same to control the compressor, as before explained. When the piston G is moved to its upper position the valve I connects the governor motor with the exhaust passage 2, thus placing the governor out of action, and uncovers the passage 713 leading to the unloading device whereby air from the receiver is admit-l ted to the unloading device and operates it to unload the compressor.

ln the controlling delll) iso

lFigs. 2 and ei-illustrate a different controlling valve Il which is formed integral with the lower portion of the piston G. rlhe valve is provided with two circumferential grooves 5 i, of which the latter com-A municates through a transverse hole 'il with the central hole f3 of the piston. The casing F is provided with vent holes is and with passages or holes i and 1 which connect with the pipes leading to the governor and to the unloader` respectively. Then the piston G is in the lower position` as shown in the drawings. compressed air is admitted from the lower side of the piston G through the holes f3 and 7 and the .groove i to the passage is and thence to the governor motor. The passage 'im is connected through the groove 5 to the, vent hole 8. lllhen the valve is moved to its upper position. the passage 1 is uncovered and air is admitted through it to the unloader from -the casing F, and the upper passage 9 is connected to the vent hole 'is so-that. the governor motor is connected to the atmosphere rendering the governor inoperative while the unloader is connected with the supply of compressed air and shut-s olf the supply of air to the compressor. K represents a relief valve which controls a hole in the'upper end of the casing F through which the pressure above the piston G can be relieved when the valve is opened to permit the upward movement of the piston and controlling valve I. The relief valve. shown, is provided with a stem 7a which projects through the relief hole and is grooved, or otherwise shaped, to allow the escape of the air through the hole. This valve is operated by the lower piston H through suitable connections. For instance,A

in the constructions shown. the piston is provided at its outer end with lateral arms 7.-2 which ar connected by rods 7:3 extending alongside 0 the casing F with a yoke 7a4 labove the casing. The outer end'of the stem of the relief valve, which is screw-threaded,y passes through a hole in the yoke and is provided above and below the yoke with adjustable nuts 7125 ZfG adapted to he engaged by t-he yoke for opening and closing the valve. 77 is a lock nut for the adjustable nut 7.16. A lost motion connection is thus provided between the piston H and the relief valve which allows the piston to be moved, more or less. depending upon the adjustment of t-he nuts 765 706 before operating the relief valve. Any other suitable lost mot-ion connection between the piston H and the relief valve could be used. I/Vhen the relief valve is seated. as shown in the drawings, the` air cannot escape from the upper end of the casing F. and the pressure then being equal on opposite ends of the piston G. the latter will be held in the lower position, shown. by its spring. The relief opening 7c is of such size that when the valve K is unseated. air will escape from the upper end of the casing faster than it can enter `through the hythe lower face of the piston will move the biston and the controlling valve I against the action of the spring f/ into the upper position. 1V hen the relief valve is again seated. the escape of air from the upper part. of the casing is prevented and the pressure on opposite ends of the piston being equalized by the air admitted through the by-pass. the spring y] will ret-urn the piston andcontrolling valve I to the lower position shown. If the piston H is forced outwardly. due to the increased pressure of the air in the receiver. the yoke 1, connected with the piston will be moved downward-ly, striking the lower nut 'r and unseating the valve. When the pressure is reduced and permits the upward movement of the piston the yoke will strike the upper nut 7r and again seat the valve. By adjusting the nuts 715 and le relatively to t-he yoke 7a4, the controlling device can be so adjust-ed that the relief valve K and consequently the piston G will be actuated upon either greater or less variations in the'receiver pressure. By placing both nuts close to the yoke 7st. the device can he adjusted so that the piston G will be actuated by slight variations in the receiver pressure. the advantages of which will he hereinafter explained.

The operation of the device is as follows: Compressed air from a receiver or other container in which a constant pressure is to be maintained enters the casing F through the passage f, and by means of the by-pass, an equal pressure is established on opposite ends of the pistou G which is held in Aits lower position by the spring g. As vlong as the pressure does not exceed the desired maximum. the piston G and the controlling valve I., connected therewith, remain in their lower posit-ions in which the governor is connected with the supply of compressed air, while the unloader in inoperative. lVhen the pressure exceeds the desired maximum. the piston H unseats the relief valve K discharging the compressed air from the upper portion of the casing F. whereupon the piston G and the controlling valve I, connected therewith, are moved into their upper positions by the air acting on the lower face of the piston (l and the valve permits the compressed air to actuate the unloader which cuts off the supply of air to the compressor and disconnects the governor from the supply of compressed air, discharging the air in the governor cylinder through the vent holes so that the valve disks e e. which control the supply of steam to the engine, will be adjacent to their seats and permit just enough steam to pass through the governor to keep the engine running.

The described controlling device has the advantage that it can be so set that it Will respond to slight fluctuations in pressure in the receiver or discharge pipes of the compressor to load or unload the same, and thereby keep the pressure in the receiver very nearly constant. The variation in pressure in the receiver can be controlled by adjusting` the nuts a 7c and by adjusting the tension ofl the springs i 7i the device can be adapted to operate at a variety of pressures. The device is so constructed that it can be easily adjusted and is positive and reliable in its action.

The controlling device shown in Figs. 6 and T is adapted to operate only upon the unloader, and has no operative connection with the governor. The construction ofthis device is similar to those already described, with the exception of the valve L, Which is of' the piston type, formed integral With the piston G2, and is provided with only one circuniferential groove Z which is adapted to connect a vent hole l and a passage Z2 formed in the unloade'r casing. The pas sage l2 leads to the cylinder of the unloader when in its lower position. When this valve is in its upper or raised position, the passage Z2 is uncovered, permitting air to pass to the unloader from the casing F.

l claim as my invention:

l. The combination with la pump, of a governor which is actuated by the pumped fluid and normally governs the speed of the pump in accordance with variations in the pressure of the pumped fluid until a predetermined pressure is attained, an unloading device which is adapted to be actuated by the pumped fluid to relieve the load on the pump, and a controlling device which is actuated b v the pumped fluid to deliver the pumped Huid either to said governor or to said unloading device for actuating the saine, whereby only one of these parts is in operation at one time, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a pump driven hy means operated by motive fluid, of a governor actuated by the pumped fluid for automatically regulating the supply of motive l'luid to said driving means for increasing the supply of motive fluid as the pressure of the pumped fluid increases, and then decreasing the supply of motive fluid after the pumped fluid attains a predetermined pressure, an unloading device which is adapted' to be actuated by the pumped Huid to relieve the load on the pump, and a controlling device which is actuated by the pumped fluid to either connect said governor With the supply of pumped fluid and disconnect said unloading device therefrom, on to disconnect said governor from the supply of pumpedliuid and to connect said unloading device therewith, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination With a pump, 'of a governor which controls the operation of said pump, an unloadin device which is adapted to relieve the loa on the pump, and acontrolling device which is actuated bv the pressure of the pumped fluid and which is operatively connected with said governor and said unloading device to cause said governor to be actuated to control the engine until the pumped fiuid attains a certain predetermined pressure, and to render said gov,- ernor inoperative and to actuate said unloading device when the pumped fluid attains a greater pressure than said predetermined pressure, substantially as set forth.

4. The combina-tion with a pump, of a governor actuated by the pumped fluid which normally governs the speed of the pump in accordance With variations in the pressure of the pumped fluid, an unloading device Vwhich is adapted to be actuated by' the pumped fluid to relieve the load on the pump, and a controlling device which is operatively connected with said governor and with said unloading device and which is actuated by the pressure of the pumped fluid to connect eitlier said governor or said unloading device with the supply or" pumped fluid, said controlling device connecting said governor with the supply of pumped i'iuid until the pumped fluid attains a certain predetermined pressure. andthen disconnecting said governor from said supply of pumped fluid and connecting said unloading device therewith, substantially as set forth.

The combination with a pump driven by means operated by motive fluid, of a governor which is actuated by the pumped fluid for regulating the supply of motive fluid to the driving means of the pump and which permits only a limited quantity of motive fluid to pass to said driving means when said governor is disconnected from the suppl y of pumped fluid, an unloading device which is adapted to 'be actuated by the pumped fluid to relieve the load on the pump, and a controlling device wliieh is actuated by thc pumped fluid to either connect said governor with the supply of pumped fluid and dis connect said unloading device therefrom, or ti disconnect said governor from the supply of pumped Huid and to connect said unloading device therewith, whereby the pump will be operated at a slow speed when said unloader alone is in operation, substantially as set forth.

6. In a controlling device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, twopistons movable iii said cylinder and acted upon by the same duid, a controlling valve actuated by one of said pist-ons, means for admitting fluid pressure i set forth.

to said cylinder at .opposite endsof said piston, a relief device actuated by said second piston for relieving thepressure in said cylinder at one end of said first mentioned piston to permit movement of said piston, and means for resisting the movement of said second piston by said fluid pressure, substantially as set forth.

7. In a controlling device of the character described, the 'combination of a cylinder, means for supplying fluid underpressure to said cylinder, two pistons movable in said cylinder and acted upon by the sam-e fluid, a controlling valve actuated by one of'said pistons, means for admitting fiuid pressure to said cylinder at opposite ends of said piston, a relief device-actuated by said second. piston for relieving the pressure in said cylinder at one end of said first mentioned piston to permit movement'of said piston, mea-ns for. resisting the movement of said second piston by said fluid pressure, and a lost motion connection between said second piston and said relief device whereby the relief device is adapted to be actuated after an initial movement of said second piston, substantially as 8. In a controlling device of the character described, l they combination of a cylinder, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said .cylinder,-two pistons movablel in said cylinder and acted upon by the same fluid, a controlling valve actuated by one of said pistons, means for admit-ting fluid pressure to said cylinder at opposite ends of saidy piston, a relief device actuated by said second piston'for relieving the pressure in said cylinder at one end of said first mentioned piston to permitl movement of said piston, means for resisting the movement of said second piston by said fluid pressure, and an adjustable lost motion connection between said second piston and said relief device whereby the relief device is adapted to be actuated after a predtermined initial movement of said second piston, substantially as set forth. i

9. In a controllingdevice of the character described, the combination of a cylinder to which pumped fluidis admitted, two pistons movable in said cylinder and acted upon by the same fluid, both ends of one of said pistons being acted upon by the pressure of the pumped fluid, means for discharging the pumped fluid from the cylinder at-,one end of said piston, and operative connections'between the second piston and said discharging means whereby thedischarging means are adapted to be actuated by said secondl piston, substantially asisetf' rth.

10. In a controlling device of the charac-- ter described, the combination of 'a cylinder,

two pistons arranged one in advance of the other in said cylinder, means for admitting A fluid pressure to said cylinder between the adjacent inner ends of said pistons for moving said pistons in opposite directions 'and for admitting fluid pressure to the cylinder at the outer end of one of said pistons to prevent outward movement of said piston, a controlling valve actuated by said piston, a relief valve for relieving the pressure in the cylinder. at said outer end of said piston to permit the outward movement vof said piston, means for resisting the outward movement of said other piston, and means operated by said last mentioned piston for actuating said relief valve after an initial movement of the piston, substantially as set forth.

11. In a controlling device of the character described, the combination of'a cylinder, two pistons arranged one in advance of the other in said cylinder, means for admitting .fluid pressure to said cylinder between the adjacent inner ends of said pistons for nioving said pistons in opposite directions and for admitting fluid pressure to the cylinder' at the outer end of one :of said pistons to prevent outward movement of said piston, a

controlling valve 4actuated by said piston, a

relief valve for relieving the pressure in the cylinder at said outer end of said .piston t0 permit the outward movement of said piston, adjustable resistance means which oppose the outward movement of said other piston,l means whereby said last mentioned piston actuates said relief valve after an initial movement of the piston, and means for regulating th'e initial independent movement of said piston, substantially as -set forth. l

12. In a controlling device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder, a piston movable longitudinally within said cylinder in one end thereof, a second Vpiston movable longitudinally in the other end of said cylinder, la controlling valve located within said cylinder and between said two pistons and which is movable with said rst mentioned piston, the pumped fluid being admitted to the cylinder intermediate of said two -pistons and acting on the adjacent ends thereof, a passage for admitting the pumped fluid to the end of the cylinder to act on the other face of said first mentioned ing thepumped fluid to the elosed end of ton and being adapted to aetuate said reiioi the cylinder at the other side of said piston, valve, substantially as lset forth. adjustable means for controlling the ow of Witness my hand, this 8th day of Septem- Huid to the. closed end of the cylinder, a Ieber, 1911. lief valve for discharging the fluid from the GEORGE M. RICHARDS. closed end of the cylinder, and a second piston Witnesses movable in the cylinder at the opposite side FLOYD HILL, of said inlet from said first mentioned pis- GEO. K. FRANK. 

